title: Safety recommendations for administering intravenous prostacyclins in the hospital.
abstract: Prostacyclins are a high-risk category of continuous intravenous infusions increasingly used in hospitals to treat advanced pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare condition characterized by vasoconstriction and vascular proliferation of the pulmonary arteries. Prostacyclins are given in doses of nanograms per kilogram per minute and have a narrow therapeutic dosing range for each patient. Sudden increases or decreases in dose can be life threatening. Previous studies revealed errors in the administration of these high-risk infusions, which in some instances led to serious adverse events, including death. The literature was reviewed for safety measures in administration of high-risk intravenous medications and input was obtained from leading experts in pulmonary arterial hypertension to create a set of safety recommendations for infusion of prostacyclins.
authors.forename: Martha S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kingman
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chin
mesh_terms: D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D044062:Prostaglandins I / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D044062:Prostaglandins I